Port of Oakland gives $70,000 to develop eco-jobs workforce
The Port of Oakland has given $70,000 to a local non-profit to prepare local workers for careers in the environmental construction trades, the company announces in its press release.
The money is going to Oakland-based Rising Sun Energy Center which has a track record of helping low-income adults get jobs in the construction, energy efficiency, and solar industries. The Port said the grant will address the need for future labor needs related to Port development projects.
Through a project labor agreement, contractors working with the Port of Oakland agree to pay into a Social Justice Trust fund that supports workforce development. Each year, the Port selects a non-profit to receive the funds. Past recipients include: Cypress Mandela Training Center, Youth Employment Partnership and the West Oakland Job Resource Center.
Since 1999, the Port’s Social Justice Trust Fund has awarded approximately $560,000 to local workforce development centers to prepare individuals for construction careers. This has translated into $5.3 million in earnings by local workers, the Port said.
About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland Seaport, Oakland International Airport, and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square. The Port's 5-year strategic plan - Growth with Care - pairs business expansion with community benefits, envisioning more jobs and economic stimulus as the Port grows. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States.
